Jammu & Kashmir
Stay away from gun culture, follow democratic means: Mehbooba to Kashmiri youth
‘Don’t accept Aug 05 decision that ended accession between JK, Union of India, want JK to become model of peace in South Asia’
Srinagar: Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the accession between JK and Union of India has been trashed in 2019 by the BJP led Government of India. She also appealed to youth in the Valley to stay away from gun culture and fight for their rights in a democratic way.
Addressing a gathering during the membership drive in Srinagar, Mehbooba said that the decision taken by the GoI on August 05, 2019, is not acceptable and the rights and identity snatched from the people here must be restored.
“Those who have turned Jammu and Kashmir into jail must bear in mind that we don’t accept the decision taken by the government. We will fight for our rights till our last breath. Even if a journalist speaks anything, he is being called and subsequently booked under UAPA,” she said.
“It is not Pakistan but India who had given us the special status. I don’t understand why BJP is getting angry why I am asking my country to restore the identity and special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The government has put an end to the agreement between J&K and Union of India, but still it is the people of J&K who are holding the hand of India. And when we raise any objection, we are being asked to stay calm,” she said, adding that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is very critical.
She added that PDP has always played a role in ensuring peace in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the party’s aim is to make JK a bridge for peace in South Asia and want JK to become a model of peace in South Asia.
“As SAARC summit is set to be held in Pakistan, we hope our Prime Minister will go there as there is no other way besides dialogue to resolve the issues,” she added.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the function, Mehbooba said that any movement with guns is bound to fail, saying that this is why she has been appealing to the Kashmiri youth not to lose their lives due to bullets. “If we want to resolve the Kashmir issue, we need to follow democratic way and force the twin neighbouring countries including India and Pakistan to hold dialogue,” she said.
“Some people want Kashmiri youth to pick up arms to show the world that they (Kashmiris) are terrorists and there are no issues with them, thus we need to follow democratic means to resolve our issues,” she said.
Asked about silence in PAGD, Mehbooba said that the conglomerate has a great role to play, saying that PAGD is still intact. “If PAGD is not there then who will talk about the issues of JK people. Dr Farooq Abdullah’s health condition was not good, thus no meeting was held so far,” she said.
About the delimitation process in JK, Mehbooba said that the GoI will always try to keep the power of JK into their hands so that they can take any decision vis-à-vis UT directly from Delhi. She said GoI wants to execute their decisions without the interference of local government here, and thus don’t want elections to be conducted soon. (KNO)
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